Franco Vita, the historic driver of Alfredo Martini has died

There is no more Franco Vita. At 90, the historic driver of Alfredo Martinione of the most famous and beloved faces of Italian cycling, had to set foot on the ground forever. A sudden death, which came shortly after Franco had called a friend to ask him for Elia Viviani’s phone number, with the intention of wishing him his best wishes for his marriage to Elena Cecchini.

Born in Vecchiano, in the province of Pistoia, Vita has gone through all the eras of cycling with his unmistakable frankness, his mythical baldness, his innate desire to be useful to the cause. A wonderful kind of Martini’s wingman: Alfredo and Franco met in 1968 at Ferretti and became an eternal professional whole. Four years at Ferretti, as a mechanic and also as sports director, then at Sammontana. Since 1975, for 23 years alongside the national team coach and therefore a traveling companion even after Alfredo Martini, and faithful servant of the Italian national team with other coaches, such as Franco Ballerini, Paolo Bettini, Davide Cassani. A man always ready and available, a humble and wonderful servant of cycling and above all of the National team. 44 World Championships, ten gold medals with various champions, from Moser to Ballan. There was always, Vita.